Zimbabwe Food Security Outlook April 2014 to September 2014

The main harvest significantly improves food availability for poor households

Key Messages

Households are currently experiencing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity. Most households have started consuming their current harvest in both the northern and southern areas of the country. These acute food insecurity outcomes are expected to continue through September in all areas, including districts in the southwest.

As the new consumption year starts, staple food prices have already started decreasing. Since March, the national average for maize grain has decreased by 11 percent. Maize meal prices remained stable and only registered a 2 percent reduction from last month. The recent drop in maize grain prices is attributed to the beginning of household consumption of cereals from own production.

Ongoing tobacco curing and sales are boosting household income, particularly in the northern areas, where production levels are projected to have significantly increased. Based on the first round Ministry of Agriculture’s crop and livestock assessment, this year’s production levels has surpassed the 2012-13 season by about 21 percent. The second round assessment is expected to be released within the next month.